Prenatal Sonographic Diagnosis of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) represents a variety of cardiac malformations that may result from errors in the early stages of cardiac development. HLHS includes a wide spectrum of cardiac malformations including hypoplasia of the left ventricle, ascending aorta, hypoplasia, or atresia of the aortic and mitral valves. Over the recent years, the improved resolution of advanced equipment with awareness and increased performance of second-trimester ultrasound examinations for the assessment of fetal anomalies have helped in understanding the spectrum and have expanded our knowledge of HLHS. They are one of the causes which constitute for neonatal morbidity and mortality and hence the rapid need for prenatal evaluation with ultrasound to detect cardiac anomalies. Prenatal recognition of disease also allows families to prepare for a child with a life-threatening defect by consultation with the multidisciplinary team that will care for their newborn and discussing the short- and long-term prognosis.

Multiple Cerebrovascular Complications due to Sphenoid Sinusitis.

Sphenoiditis is of particular interest because the sphenoid sinus has thin wall and its special anatomical location facilitate dissemination of infection to many intracranial structures including vascular structures. The main objective of this report is to gain insight into patterns of presentation and imaging findings in cerebrovascular complications of sphenoid sinusitis and to emphasize the need of reviewing Brain Computed Tomography Scan in all windows. This is a report of 32-year-old young female presented with fever and headache who was diagnosed to have sphenoid sinusitis after radiological examination. Sphenoid sinusitis may involve several intracranial structures, with potentially severe or even fatal complications. Prompt diagnosis and antibiotic/antifungal therapy is essential to minimize mortality and morbidity.

Imaging Patterns in MRI in Recent Bone Injuries Following Negative or Inconclusive Plain Radiographs.

BACKGROUND: Few bony injuries and most soft tissue injuries cannot be detected on plain radiography. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect such occult bony injuries due to signal changes in bone marrow. In addition to excluding serious bony injuries, it can also identify tendon, ligament, cartilage and other soft tissue injuries and thus help in localizing the cause of morbidity. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the MRI imaging patterns in recent bone injuries (less than 4 weeks) following negative or inconclusive plain radiographs. To determine the role of MRI in recent fractures. RESULTS: Out of the 75 individuals with history of recent injury of less than 4 weeks duration, fracture line was demonstrated in 16 patients (21%) who had no obvious evidence of bone injury on plain radiographs. Bone contusion or bruising of the bone was demonstrated in 39 (52%) patients. This was the commonest abnormality detected in MRI. The remaining 20 patients did not show any obvious injury to the bone on MR imaging however, soft tissue injury could be demonstrated in 12 (16%) patients which show that the extent of soft tissue injury was relatively well demonstrated by MR imaging. The present study showed that occult injuries commonly occur at the Knee followed by Ankle, Wrist, Foot, Elbow, Leg, Hands, Hips & Spine. CONCLUSION: The study showed that MR is efficient in the detection of occult bone injuries which are missed on radiography. Compared to radiographs, MRI clearly depicted the extent of injuries and associated soft tissue involvement. MRI demonstrates both acute and chronic injuries and also differentiates both, whereas radiography has poor sensitivity for acute injuries. Also, the soft tissue injuries like tendionous and ligamentous injuries cannot be identified on radiographs.